European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 01, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and stripes tuesday october 1,1985 Ueberroth drug plan can t work by John Nelson a sports writer Riding a wave of Strong Public sentiment baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth has recommended a drug testing program that probably is unworkable in both of its two most Basic elements. Ignoring a step that could work and May be looked upon less so optically by the players Union. Ueberroth suggests a plan that is both voluntary and random. Voluntary testing cannot succeed for several reasons and random testing is an abomination to the Union and to a free society a More productive solution to the Complex question of drug testing probably can be found in a negotiated pro Gram that is mandatory yet relics on regularly scheduled testing of players. Ueberroth however labors under the misapprehension that giving prior notice of testing dates would allow players addicted to cocaine enough time to clean them selves up. To prove his Point he makes an inane Compa Rison with Drivers who violate Speed Laws. Testing is no different than enforcing a Speed limit Ueberroth says. If you say you re Only going to enforce the Speed limit on tuesdays and thursdays then Drivers will not Speed Only on those  the reason that analogy docs not work should be obvious. Drivers arc not addicted to speeding As cocaine addicts arc to their drug. In every sport there arc exam Ples of players who knew they would be tested yet flunked the tests Steve Howe in baseball Chuck Muncie in football and John Lucas and John Drew in basketball. At the same time scheduling the tests would Amelio rate one of the Union s gravest concerns that random commentary would turn to Caprice that players would be subjected to Middle of the night tests after being dragged from their hotel Beds in pyjamas half asleep Ueberroth promises this would not be the Case that players would be tested Only in their Cli k uses at the Ballpark in a dignified manner by cart Isicc Nedical peo ple. In All probability his assessment is accurate but it s foolish to take the Chance that his Beni Nancy automatically will pass on to All who follow or will not be abused by those around him. The overriding historical premise is that once you yield the right of self determination to someone else you d better expect that someone else to use it to its fullest. It s kind of like hoping for the Best but expecting the worst. If testing is to be used As a deterrent then scheduled testing will not should not be the business of baseball anyway. That is Stop the casual user. That is not or the business of the government that makes the Laws. If instead the idea is to detect and help those with the most severe problems problems Likely to affect a players performance then it will succeed. The idea of voluntary testing has at least two draw backs and probably was Only offered because it gave Ueberroth a Way to test the Waters and apply the pres sure of Public opinion before dealing with the Union. The first drawback is that it is vague and practically meaningless in this situation. If As Ueberroth asked every player volunteered for the program would it then become mandatory or could a Pla or withdraw at any time say after being tested once or twice theoretically under a voluntary program the 99 percent who Are clean could be tested while the 1 percent who Are addicted could opt out. What purpose would that serve the even More damaging aspect of a voluntary pro Gram however is that those who did t Volunteer for whatever reasons automatically would be stigmatized. Anyone who refused voluntary testing will be assumed guilty of drug use says Paul Molitor of the Milwaukee Brewers. The effect is to coerce players to Volunteer and that hardly makes the program voluntary. Ueberroth is sincere on this subject. His announce ment earlier this week surely was timed for ill Public relations value coming so soon after the Federal drag trial in Pittsburgh it which seven players testified. But Ueberroth has been genuinely concerned with the drag problem since he took Over As commissioner last october. At the same time the Union is being forced to recognize the Gravity of the problem that it has scandalized the game and that something must be done. Don Chr the head of the Union is not being Bull headed. Rather he recognizes that no system of testing whether voluntary or mandatory random or scheduled can work without a negotiated settlement be tween the players association and baseball. In fact a Legal solution probably can t be found without negotiations. With this increasing sense of urgency the two parties must already recognize that serious negotiations Are in order. The sad realization however is that drugs Proba Bly never will be eliminated entirely from the game just As they never will be eliminated entirely from society. The goal then should be to find and help As Many players with serious addictions As possible and on this there should be no disagreement. Tabs cards co Eman for Rookie honors Browning does t think his 20 enough by Joe Kay Cincinnati a Cincinnati reds left hander Tom Browning does t think his 20 victories will be enough to land him Rookie of the year honors in the National league. Browning. 20-�, pitched 7w Strong innings in a 5-2 Victory Over the Houston astros saturday to become the major leagues first Rookie 20-game Winner in 3 years. The last one was Bob grim who went 20-6 for the new York Yankees in1954. Harvey Haddix went 20-9 for the St. Louis cardinals in 1953, the last National league Rookie to win 20. However had Dix also failed to win the Rookie of the year honors which went that year to the dodgers Junior Gilliam. Browning figures he will suffer a similar Fate with the Rookie vote going to Vince Coleman of the cardinals. Vince has done a great Job leading St. Louis to first place Browning said. If there s anybody who deserves it it should be Vince Coleman has scored 105 runs while Bat Ling .265, but that does t begin to de scribe his contribution. He has stolen 109 bases far and away the Best Ever for a Rookie and the third highest figure in a photo reds Tom Browning. First in 31 years baseball history. Only Rickey Henderson with 130 in 1982, and former Cardinal Lou Brock with 118 in 1974, have stole More and Coleman has six More games to player manager Pete Rose figures Coleman will get the award because he been a starter on a team with a Good Chance of winning its division. I think Coleman will be Rookie of the year Rose said. If we won the division Browning probably would get More consideration. He s had a Good year but they give it to an everyday ballplayer. I wish he would win Rookie of the year. We be sort of got a tradition Over  Rose is one of five reds to win Rookie honors since 1956, when Frank Robinson had a Brilliant first year. Since then theaward has gone to Rose in 1963, Tommy Helms in 1966, Johnny Bench in 1968,and Pitcher Pat Zachry in 1976. Whether he wins the award or not. Rose thinks his left hander is the most impressive Rookie Pitcher of the year. Browning 25, was the reds ninth Choice in the regular phase of the june 1982 draft. He Learned to throw the screwball during the 1982 Florida instructional league season and developed intone of the reds Best minor league prospects. His screwball an Affinity for challenging hitters and throwing strikes and a habit of working quickly of the Mound have worked in his favor Ihn Imson. He s never been touted As one of thereat pitchers of tomorrow Catcher Dave Van Gordor said. I m not surprised by20 win but it has to be somewhat of a Shock to the baseball world. It s unbelievable i  Browning who has 145 strikeouts in248 a innings does t overpower hitters. He reminds Rose of Catfish Hunter who had five consecutive 20-win seasons for Oakland and the new York Yankees inthe 1970s. He s always around the plate he goes at you he challenges you and gets you out Rose said. He s a tremendous Pitcher. He just keeps working hard even whence gets into trouble. He s a bulldog. He s got a lot of character. He s not a  he gets into trouble he goes right at  Van Gorder agrees that Browning temperament has helped make him successful. I d say it s his determination Vangorder said. He s got More courage More gumption. He does t have Over whelming stuff. He just does t give in. He s so Low key when he goes out there. That s what makes him successful. He goes out there very  Galbreath feels pirates will stay in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh up1 team presi Dent Dan Galbreath said sunday he thinks the pirates will be sold to a group that will keep the team in Pittsburgh. This is the last game for the Galbreath but not for the City he said following the pirates 9-7 loss to the new York mels in10 innings. Since last november Galbreath has Bee trying to sell the team his Columbus Ohio family has owned for 39 years. Warne communications inc. Is a minority owner. Galbreath has received numerous offer from groups wanting to move the pirates. But he said the ton bidders remain a coalition of Public Ana private interests organized by Pittsburgh mayor Dick Caliguir and another group involving pirates manager Chuck Tanner and Auto dealers Jame Peruto and Vincent Piazza of Easton a. We be been contacted by virtually Ever City that s been mentioned As a possible expansion City Galbreath said. One individual told me if we were to get rid of the lease he d w rite me a Blank Check and he  Galbreath and his father John have said since they put the team up for Sale that they would try to find buyers who would keep the pirates in Pittsburgh. The Caliguiri coalition and Tanner group have promised to do that. But the offer by Tanner s group is contingent on concessions by City and Allegheny county government on the pirates Long term Lea seat three Rivera stadium. The Philadelphia Tanner s group has one very substantial individual who is a great baseball fan and would like to keep the Teamie Pittsburgh Galbreath said. We have talked seriously a it an offer that would be acceptable. There at some conditions regard ing the lease and that clearly is the hang up. Weve spoken As late As Friday with their at Torney and i remain  Tanner said saturday he doubted hit group would succeed in buying the team but he was More optimistic after talking with Galbreath sunday. The crowd of 13,956 at the pirates 1985finale gave Dan and John Gibreath a standing ovation while a scoreboard Mes Sage bid them goodbye Between the third and fourth innings. After the game both Gal breaths wiping tears away said goodbye to each player and coach on the team